Wednesday, 3 September 2014

Etymologically according to Artemidorus, the word
Lycabettus refers to the Greek word for twilight (Lyki). According to Greek
mythology , Lycabettus Hill was born when
goddess Athena, frightened because Agraulus, Erse and Pandrosus disobeyed her
orders and secretly looked at Erichtheon, threw down the rock which she had
picked from Mount Penteli to use for improving the fortification of the
Acropolis.

While Plato and Xenophon maintained that River
Iridanus sprang from Lycabettus Hill and the hill was covered with vegetation ,
other sources have suggested that that it was rocky and barren.

The chapel of St. George at
the top of the hill was only built in the 1830’s when Athens became the capital
of the Greek nation-state, whilst the smaller chapel of St. Isidoros was a
little earlier carved out inside a rock.

Full Moon and St George Lycabettus chapel

Dexameni square (Dexameni
meaning reservoir) was created in 1870, but acquired its definite shape and
profile towards the end of the century when streets Fokylidou and Glykonos were
also opened.

The area changed much in subsequent decades. Kolonaki
is today one of the most elegantand
lively areas of Athens with a great density of refined restaurants and elegant
shops. At the beginning of the 20th century however there was only one tavern in the
still unpaved Anagnostopoulou street. From 1900 onwards the atmosphere had
taken a new hew as the ‘kafeneio’ (cafe) on the square, began to be
increasingly frequented by intellectuals. Already from the 19th
century the neighbouring Kolonaki
quarter, further down towards the elegant
Vassilisis Sofias avenue and the grounds of the Royal Palace (now Greek
Parliament) had started to become an area of expensive residence and
recreation.

During the early 20th century Dexameni
and Lycabettus were referred to by Athenians as the Montmartre of Athens
and also in 1900 the café chantant named Paradeisos (Paradise)
was catching the affection and the money of the ‘bon viveurs’ of the capital.

(Paradeisos Cafe advertisment- paliaathina.com)

For several decades during the beginning of the 20th
century, in the two cafés of the square , successive generations of writers,
artists, philosophers and intellectuals in general, met and considered their
mission to solve the problems of the world. Both places hosted lively discussions
about politics, literature, language art and poetry. The circle constantly
expanded until the end of the 30’s and Dexameni became one of the most important
and renowned cultural centers in the whole of Greece.

Greek society was changing fast , new ideas were introduced, new
traditions in politics were being forged , new economic opportunities appeared
and Dexameni started to attract entrepreneurs and investors.

The music café Paradeisos operated for a number of years hosting musicians
and dancers and attracting customers from the wealthier suburbs around the
capital. It closed down eventually only to re-open later after it was purchased
by one of the early entrepreneurs in the area , Michalis Mantzavelakis ,
who refurbished it and turned into a restaurant and hall of entertainment.

Since the opening of Paradeisos in Dexameni,
revelers, intellectuals and artists congregated in greater numbers. Cafes
multiplied and several more recreation spots

Urbanisation was accompanied by new patterns of
entertainment such as cinema, and the first film theatre opened in the area.

The walk on the Lycabettus Hill is still today
considered as one of the finest and most peaceful anywhere in Athens.